New 900ss Ready To Roll
NEW 900SS READY TO ROLL
DUCATI’S REVAMPED 900 Supersport may not be as much a product of passion as some of the company’s earlier bikes, but the end result is no accident. Designer Pierre Terblanche was told to retain the traditional character of the bike and use as many existing components as possible. “My parameters were quite clear-cut,” he says. “This has been the most difficult project I’ve done, much more so than the Supermono of 1992.”
To satisfy increasingly stringent emission and noise requirements, fuel injection and a larger airbox were necessary. The former is a third-generation Marelli unit, with one injector per cylinder. Somewhat of a surprise, though, is the fact that the air/oil-cooled V-Twin continues to displace 904cc. “We can’t make it 944cc (as with the ST2), because even with improved ducting to the rear cylinder, there are cooling problems,” says Terblanche. “Still, the fuel-injected engine produces more lowend power.”
Queried if the cantilever-type rear suspension presents any performance limitations,
In genere Andrea Forni replies,
“Not for a sportbike. Most risingrate suspension is nearly linear these days. We believe the lighter and simpler cantilever is better for 90 percent of riders.” Ergonomics are similarly sport-oriented. “The riding position is now closer to the 916, with lower handlebars and higher footpegs,” Forni says. “While the comfort levels may be lower than before, this bike sets new parameters for handling.”
The accuracy of Form’s comments remains to be seen, but signs are the new 900SS will be a worthy successor to its classic namesake. Ian Falloon
